Muslim youth and Hindu woman caught in compromising position inside temple
Hardoi, Uttar Pradesh, India 
4 November, 2024
Case Summary
Hindu devotees, at a temple in Pali Nagar, found a Muslim man named Shadab with a Hindu woman in a compromising position within the temple complex. The incident, captured on the temple's CCTV, was shared widely on social media. Noticing the unusual presence of Shadab with the woman, devotees observed their actions and eventually intervened. Shadab was subsequently handed over to the police, who confirmed his identity and detained him. According to Pali Police Station In-charge Sunil Kumar Dubey, during interrogation, the young man identified himself as Shadab, son of Nishad, from Alhaganj in Shahjahanpur district.
Why it is Hate Crime ?
This incident qualifies as a religiously motivated hate crime under the sub-category of 'Breaking rules of a temple' within the prime category- Attack on Hindu religious symbols, of the tracker. Sanatan Dharma is not a religion of one book, which is to say that while it has religious scriptures that form the central tenets of the faith, there are several traditions followed through thousands of years, mostly passed from generation to generation orally. One of these oral traditions or written traditions is the rules of specific temples. Certain temples have rules which are traditional rules, dependent on the worship of the presiding deities. These rules and traditions have been followed for thousands of years whether they find scriptural mention or not. Such traditions are based on the nature and rules of worship of the presiding deity of that temple. Any non-compliance of these traditions owing to animosity towards the faith or for the sake of activism stems not only from the lack of faith in the presiding deity but also disregard for the faith of the devotees of that deity/temple and implicit bias against the faith, the tradition and the deity itself. Since these specific traditions are central to the faith of the devotees of that specific temple and presiding deity, any non-compliance with these traditional rules would be considered a religiously motivated hate crime. This incident involves the act of disregarding and violating the sanctity of a Hindu temple, which is a religious space. By engaging in inappropriate behaviour within the temple grounds, Shadab and the woman disrespected the customs, values, and spiritual significance attached to this sacred space. Temples hold special importance in Hindu culture, serving as places of worship and devotion, where certain codes of conduct are expected. Violating these codes, particularly by a non-Hindu, can be viewed as an intentional disregard for Hindu religious norms. This act is perceived as not only offensive but also as a provocation against the faith, as the accused were caught in a compromising situation within a religious setting. Such actions contribute to a sense of intrusion and disrespect towards Hindu practices and can be seen as motivated by a lack of respect toward the religion and its traditions.
Case Status
Case sub-judice
Perpetrators Details
Perpetrators
Others
Perpetrators Range
From 2 To 5
Perpetrators Gender
both
Sources 
